The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-10-28
Written for The Democrat-Star.
A GHOST STORY.
BY A. c. B.

OwS stretched themselves lAziIy
across the grassy yard. The
cook and our little store oI
household goods had preceded us
the day before, and the house was
in dire confusion.
"Three moves are equal to fire.
so it is said. but there is always a
certainty about fire not leaving
broken chairs and soiled curtains,
that move bestows OH such un-
settled mortals as seek its mercy.
Pat WAS busy and cross, for l
have noticed that loss of temper is
apt to follow other losses. In the
midst of setting our little rooms in
order sable face, shaded or rather
Illuminated, appeared at the door.
81 clare to gracious, Miss Nancy,
you'll never git dis heah room SOt
TO rights at dat rate come right
ont an git yer tea; it'll hope yer
up nightly. Dat cOlO'd 'Onan
'cresS de bayou done stop long side
de back fence, an she lows as how
yer won't res much in dis house at
night, she lows its hG'Rted F; done
BIN ,Iei' by all de white uns dats
lived in it more'n year back, dats
mighty bad sign, Miss, pears to
me-"
Pat looked frightened. Ted, in
the pride OF thirteen years, tried TO
look very brave as he led the way
to snpprr, the odOr of tea lilling the
little room, as the rays of sunlight
gllnted over the slender pines, over
the ancient garden fence, y line of
yellow tig trees, tumbled down
grape al Dor, y narrow plat of forest
grass, aud then flooded the western
windows and door, falling lastly
across Aunt Cloe's shining face as
she stood midway between the hot
stove and smokIng tea table, her
lace full of tue sOlemnity of the case
in hand, that "dey had gone an
done moved inter ha'nted house
and no hep fur it," Aunt Cloe. a
kind OF heirloom, banded down from
mother to daughter, had reached
us in Il well preserved state, that is,
retaining all her original strength
of arm aud the usual amount of su-
prostitution.
81 dunno what ole Miss 'u'd think
il she was jess alive now, with all
us folks agittbn inter such a fix.
/ clare to gracious, Miss, YOU
Oughter seed after dis heah la'nt
fore yer went an done tuck de
house, 4 doan spec no sort o. sleep
to visit my lids desc nights, what
wild de iencin' all down, and de
house ha'nted."
ga ten rail fence couldn't keep
out hG'nt, Aunt Cloe," said Ted,
hls mouth full of bread and butter.
"Dat's so, shO 'nuff, but ten
railer is a sight better'in haven
desc wire grass hogs a pokin' der
long snorters inter dc ash bar'l, am
a rootin' roun' dat ole shaller wcll.n
Pat lost her appetite before such
dread fOrebOdings, aud even Ted
had to whistle as he hunted under
the dark stairs for a missing ham.
mer.
Pat, a slender girl of fifteen,
whose days had been given 10 i'm.
aginary flights, aud whose castles
built in air were to her a reality.
Myself, the older sister, whose head
bad been crowned with the dignity
Of a whole years school teaching,
yet my authority was occasionally
overlooked by Ted, aud more fire.
quently cast aside by Aunt Cloe.
at dark we hHddled a little closer
around the lamp as an occasional
puff of wind banged some ancient
shutter, aud set the tall pines sigh
ing through sheer loneliness. Aunt
ClOe brought in some patchwork
aud took her place on low stool in
Ihe corner, where from time to time
she filed our ears with some fright
fol story Of runaway negroes that
used to lie around "oid great gran
mars rice plantation" The old dar-
key was responsible Tor Pats airy
castles filed with gOblins, aud Ted's
haunts, filed With ghosts by the le.
gion. The hours grew late, aud at
ast worn out With the days labor,
sleep began to get the better Of the
excitement caused by Aunt ClOc's
announcement OF the house being
sha'uted." Ted's head already rested
lpon his tired hands, aud the Old
legrO slowly rolled up her work and
suggested atime 10 sleep n y body
sin." Accordingly We al bestowed
ourselves IN bed, Ted remarking
hat be was not afraid Of ghosts bat
le would sheep On lounge in lit
ie room uen By, and Aunt ClOe